Born in 1981 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Lives and works in Kinshasa
Steve Bandoma studied at the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 2004. During his studies, he became disillusioned with the academic approach to art, which he felt lacked innovation. He rejected teaching methods that were disconnected from the contemporary popular art scene flourishing outside the institution. He joined Librisme Synergie, a group within the Kinshasa contemporary art movement known as Librisme, which stood against the theoretical constraints of naturalism and so-called "Negro-African" art.
In 2005, Bandoma traveled to South Africa, where he studied under Kevin McCauley, whom he regards as a mentor. There, he also discovered the work of Jeff Koons and found inspiration in American avant-garde movements. “I spent nearly a year looking for the right connections in the art circles, first in Johannesburg and then in Cape Town. South Africa was exactly where I wanted to be. Every hour, every minute, every second I spent there inspired me even more to become an artist.” His determination paid off, and he seized the opportunity to participate in the Cape 07/X-Cape festival. He eventually returned to Kinshasa in 2010. As he puts it: “Culture is a dynamic force. Art is a dynamic force. People and artists are dynamic forces. Creation is a process.”
Bandoma works across a range of media, including sculpture, painting, drawing, and collage. He creates his collages using magazine images, which he repurposes to give them new meaning—and, as he says, “a new life.” The mix of techniques brings a sense of movement and an aesthetic inspired by the vibrancy of Kinshasa, reflecting an African society in constant transformation. By combining drawing, splashes of color, and collage, Bandoma evokes implosion—caught between chaos and humor—set against a backdrop of political turmoil. Faces, limbs, body fragments, animated figurines, and fetishes come together in works that appear spontaneous and unrestrained, yet are in fact thoughtful and carefully composed. His pieces are organized into series that comment on politics, culture, and current events.
Whether through his Black Code, Kitsch, or Ghost series, Steve Bandoma contributes to the writing of a new Code Noir, a reappropriation of African history. With a mix of disillusionment, affection, and humor, his work presents a world burdened by politics that corrode morality, mental health, and collective consciousness. His Surrounders series, in particular, expresses a more optimistic vision—one of change and redirection.
Collections
Harn Museum of Art, Gainsville, USA
Nirox Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fondation Alliances, Casablanca, Morocco
C.A.A.C. collection Pigozzi, Geneva, Switzerland
Collection Farida et Henri Seydoux, Paris, France
Collection Jacques Azibert
The Robert Devereux Collection
Collection Gervanne et Matthias Leridon
